It is generally agreed that until recently the lack of proper "coordination of benefits" in a liability settlement has worked to the detriment of Medicare. This has changed. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare saves now more than $8 billion annually on claims processed by insurances that are primary to Medicare.

Michael D. Raymond, Ph.D., is president of Connecticut Settlement Planning in North Haven. For more information about the author, see ctsettlementplanning.com. Steven J. Errante is a partner at Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante P.C., where he practices primarily in the areas of medical malpractice and personal injury law.